Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

The UK Safer Internet Centre – a partnership of three leading charities; Childnet, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation – provide resources for children, schools and families, and tools for getting involved at www.saferinternet.org.uk.

Globally, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries, coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.

The day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. It calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet.

Here at school we have been comparing the effects of posting nasty messages compared to kind messages. We have been put in the “hot seat” to see how it feels and we have made our own pledges to use the Internet in a positive way. You will see our shareaheart tweets all week as we continue with this theme.

In addition, older pupils have been considering the more dangerous side of the Internet and have learned about the sad and worrying story of Breck Bednar as told in the BBC’s Murder Games. You can read about this in the latest newsletter from school but also you can still watch the programme via BBC iplayer.

The best RC racers from across the globe were there over the weekend to decide the Reedy International Race of Champions 2016. This event is the biggest 1/12 event of the 2016 calendar with 94 entrants from over a dozen countries. Support races were provided by the Porsche Carrera Cup, for 911 bodied GT12’s and F1’s, so there was plenty of varied action for all the RC racing community.

We were more interested in the ‘Have a Go’ track though and were delighted to have the chance to build and race our very own cars.

When we arrived we were presented with a bag of car parts, a few tools and a set of instructions. It took a while to get our heads round it but eventually we had built 3 cars. We had to take our cars to the scrutineer to be tested before we got the go-ahead to race them. Soon we were all lined up on the track and the designated driver for each team took the controller and waited for the lights to change ( just like in the F1 Grand Prix!). The Spanners were easily the winners leaving the Smarties miles behind and the Blue Flash team retired at the side of the track!

In the re-run, a handicap was imposed which saw the driver being blindfolded and guided by a team mate. It made no difference and the Spanners won again.

We really enjoyed our racing and would like to thank everybody who made it possible, especially the team from Active Learning Support who assisted us throughout.

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a peaceful holiday and are refreshed for a 2016. Take a look at the low down for English this half term.

Student of the Half Term

Congratulations go to the following students who were awarded Student of the Half Term for their

effort, commitment, contributions in class or progress.

Year 7 Elizabeth Mcguire-Wheately

Year 8 Chloe Tuckwell

Year 9 Melissa Donaghue

Year 10 Jemma McCarthy

Year 11 Kayla Chen

Year 12 Katie Lloyd

A huge well done to these girls who should be proud of this achievement and whose names are displayed in the English corridor.

Year 8 get blogging!

Year 8 are learning how to write to advise this half term and some will have the opportunity to show off their skills and talents by posting their advice on the school blog. Look out for new blog posts coming up!

Year 9 get reporting!

Year 9 are exploring journalism this half term. Some will have the opportunity to interview some of the staff who will be attempting the ‘3 Peaks Challenge’ to raise money for the school library. More information to follow this half term.

Good luck to year 11

Year 11 are now in the final months of preparation towards either WJEC Entry Level qualification or WJEC GCSE Language. We wish them luck and encourage them to stay motivated in this time.

Home Learning

If your daughter is in Years 7-10, she will be receiving regular spelling and reading homework. Please support your daughter with these tasks. We suggest 10-15 minutes a day. Both these tasks make significant contributions to students’ progress.

‘Where will your book take you?’:

Thanks to those who have already got started with this by handing in some great photos of you reading in original places. Keep an eye out over the next year and bring in your pictures! So far we have got as far as Portugal!

Here is a reminder of the project.

We are keen to see where your book takes you! Take a photograph of you reading your book in unusual places and hand in to your English teacher. This is an ongoing opportunity so keep thinking as you go out at weekends and on holidays. Check the board as you come up to English to see where books have taken other students and your teachers! How far round the world will we get?

“My fear was getting involved by dancing in front of everyone. I thought everyone might laugh at me but I just decided to go for it. Afterwards, I felt really proud. Next time I am in a new situation, I am going to fight the fear again!”

The Hour of Code is a self-guided tutorial to learn how to code and discover the basics of computer science. The campaign to promote it kicked off from 7th December last week. Some girls in Y9 and Y10 took the challenge and worked towards completing fun tasks in the context of Frozen, Star Wars or Minecraft depending on their interests. Hopefully they enjoyed doing it and have talked about it at home so that you too can have a go! If they didn’t mention it, or you’re not in those classes, then read on to find out how you can get involved anyway.

So why do we need an hour of it?

Because it’s a useful skill to have, particularly for parents, teachers and those who work with families, who may be able to help the children they look after if they know a bit about it themselves.

As the people behind the week-long campaign explain, an hour is enough ‘to learn that computer science is fun and creative, that it is accessible at all ages, for all students, regardless of background.’

Fair enough. So, tell me what to do.

Log on to the website below to find out more. (It doesn’t have to be this week – you can do it any time.)

The Hour of Code is aimed at all ages, you don’t need any experience and you can choose from a variety of self-guided tutorials to have a go yourself, or guide children through it. Go on – it’s fun.

Welcome to Alfriston School’s very own ‘Fight the Fear’ Challenge 2015. This is a bid to prove to our students that fear does not have to get in the way of learning.

Where has this come from?
Studies have shown that one of the most significant factors that gets in the way of the success of students in their learning, and progress, is a fear of failure.

The theory
If students see teachers and staff prove that fear does not have to get in the way, then they too will be encouraged to take that risk in the classroom improving their learning experience and progress.

What are we asking students to do over the next year?
We are asking students to overcome their fears of failure or ‘getting it wrong’ by:
• putting their hand up to contribute an idea even if they are not sure it is correct
• trying out an idea verbally before writing (essential to rehearsing for writing technique)
• feeling confident to have a go at a piece of work even if it is not going to be right the first time
• taking feedback
• giving feedback
• understanding that getting it wrong is part of learning

What will Alfriston staff be doing?
To support our students, staff will be tackling their own fears. Photographs will be on display in the main corridor.

How can students/parents keep updated on the latest news and impact of the challenge?
All you need to do is follow our online updates on the school website. For example, check out the launch video- can you spot your teachers? We will also update you throughout the year with students’ testimonials as they face their fears inside the classroom and pictures/videos of staff as they face their fears outside the classroom.

My youth workers Carol and Sam met me at Amersham train station and we travelled up to London together with my fellow MYP Kate Jameson. We took the Underground to Westminster and made our way into the House of Commons.

It was amazing – I found the architecture so beautiful and the atmosphere was buzzing. Everyone was very excited and there were MYPs from all over the country.

We had to wait until 11.00 to go into the chamber when a doorkeeper walked us in in a very grand and formal manner. John Bercow introduced the day and other MPs spoke as well.

Then the debates began on a range of issues selected from the Make Your Mark consultation, including the need for improved mental health services and tackling racism and religious discrimination.

It was really interesting and cool to hear young people like myself speaking in this magnificent arena.
Each debate featured a proposal and an opposition speech to open it. Then the Speaker asked MYPs from different regions to give their views and opinions. Each debate was eventually concluded with a closing speech. When my friend Kate was chosen to speak I felt very proud and she did a really good job.

November 16th to 20th is Inter Faith week and we are having R&E week at Alfriston. There will be quizzes, puzzles, a faith trail, songs from different cultures, a Hindu experience and lots more new activities taking place across the week. There will be a competition entitled ‘I believe . . . ‘ and prizes for each year group.

Hello and welcome back after half term! We hope you all had a restful week off and are now getting ready for the run up to Christmas. Take a look at the low down for English this half term.

Student of the Half Term

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Student of the Half Term for their effort, commitment, contributions or progress.

Year 7 Sophie Coleman

Year 8 Alice Baldwin

Year 9 Esme O’Connell

Year 10 Emma Crockett

Year 11 Chelsea Samushonga

Year 12 Iram Ali

A huge well done to these girls who should be proud of this achievement and whose names are displayed in the English corridor.

Functional Skills November Entries

Good luck to some of our year 12 students who will be sitting their Functional Skills exams this November. This is a great opportunity to gain a qualification in the use of the English language in everyday contexts such as writing a personal statement or letter.

‘Word of the Week’ challenge

Each week you will be given a new ‘Word of the Week’ in pastoral time, which is also displayed in every classroom. Get talking about it with your pastoral group- how many times can you use it that week?!

‘Where will your book take you?’:

Thanks to those who have already got started with this by handing in some great photos of you reading in original places. Keep an eye out over the next year and bring in your pictures!

Here is a reminder of the project.

We are keen to see where your book takes you! Take a photograph of you reading your book in unusual places and hand in to your English teacher. This is an ongoing opportunity so keep thinking as you go out at weekends and on holidays. Check the board as you come up to English to see where books have taken other students and your teachers! How far round the world will we get?

The Mustard Seed Relief Mission organises Love in a Box and it is one of the best known parts of its operations and has been running for over a decade . They begin collecting the boxes at the end of October every year. Schools, churches, other organisations and individuals collect and pack items into shoeboxes for them to send to under-privileged children throughout Eastern Europe. They have sent on average 50,000 boxes each year and each one is individually received by a child.

Please consider making up a shoe box of gifts to give to disadvantaged children this Christmas. You can choose to make up a box for a boy or a girl of differing ages. Please follow the instructions on the leaflet (see the link below) closely and please include a donation if you are able to. It is important that the box and lid are wrapped separately so that they can be opened easily at customs.